Zafar Mirza expresses satisfaction over China's measures to curb Coronavirus spread
He stated that no case of the virus has been confirmed in the country.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Saturday expressed satisfaction over protective measures taken by the Chinese government to curb the spread of Wuhan novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
In a press conference, Mr Mirza asserted that primers (reagents) to detect the Coronavirus would be received by Pakistan from Japan today, and the samples could be tested by tomorrow.
He revealed that the government has formulated a comprehensive plan with the relevant ministries in order to prepare for dealing with the possible spread of the deadly virus in Pakistan.
“The virus has been spreading rapidly with thousands of cases being confirmed daily, and has spread to 27 countries,” he said, adding that 249 people have lost their lives so far.
Mr Mirza clarified that the Chinese government has been effectively taking care of Pakistanis in Wuhan, and those measures would prevent the outbreak of virus in other countries.
“Evacuation of Pakistanis from China (at the moment) is not safe in terms of public health,” he said, adding that the foreign ministry has prepared for extending the visas of Pakistanis staying in China.
He stated that no case of the virus has been confirmed in the country. “The government is launching a campaign on the electronic media from today to create awareness amongst the people about the virus.”
The number of deaths from a coronavirus epidemic in China has risen by 46 to 259, Chinese health authority said on Saturday, as the United States and other nations announced new border curbs on foreigners who have been in China.
The central province of Hubei, the centre of the epidemic, is under a virtual quarantine, with roads sealed off and public transport shut down. Elsewhere in China, authorities have placed restrictions on travel and business activity in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
In its latest figures, China’s National Health Commission said there were 2,102 new confirmed infections in China on Friday, bringing the cumulative total to 11,791. Around two dozen other countries have reported confirmed cases of the virus.
Amid growing international concern, Singapore and the United States announced measures on Friday to restrict entry to foreign nationals who have recently been in China.
Australia followed suit, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying the country will deny entry to all foreign nationals travelling from mainland China from Saturday.
“We’re in fact operating with an abundance of caution in these circumstances,” Morrison told reporters in Sydney. “So Australians can go about their daily lives with confidence.”
However, the World Health Organization, which this week declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, reiterated global trade and travel restrictions were not needed.
“We would want countries to focus on the mitigation efforts of identifying the possible importation of cases and responding to any domestic outbreak,” China WHO representative Gauden Galea told Reuters on Saturday.
Qantas Airways Ltd and Air New Zealand said international travel bans had forced them to suspend their direct flights to China from Feb. 9.
All three major U.S. airlines said on Friday they would cancel flights to mainland China.
Nearly 10,000 flights have been suspended since the outbreak of the new coronavirus, according to travel and data analytics firm Cirium, illustrating concerns about a slowdown in economic activity in China and elsewhere.
With input from Reuters
